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One last facelift for SAAB 9-3

Tweaked styling and upgraded engines give SAAB’s ageing 9-3 one final refresh for 2012 model year.

SAAB 9-3 MY12 saloon

By Tom Phillips

February 2011

Nine years after its was launched, SAAB has announced one last facelift for its 9-3 Saloon, SportWagon, Convertible and 9-3X models. The ‘9-3 MY12’ range gets new front bumpers and headlights which are designed to bring the look into line with the recently launched 9-5.

Inside, titanium-effect trim and improved leather seat upholstery help lift the dated cabin.

Under the bonnet, new 2.0-litre petrol engines give 163bhp and 220bhp and include direct injection, variable valve timing and twin scroll turbocharging. 

SAAB claims that this has improved fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions by four per cent across the range, which comprises SE and Aero specs in the UK.

These new engines join the current 130, 160 and 180bhp 1.9-litre TTiD twin turbo diesel line-up. Retuning of the engine means that the SportWagon now returns 119g/km and 62.8mpg fuel consumption.

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7 Comments

Great Car

and cost effective to buy as well.

Until it goes wrong; which it will. Then you are in the hands of the highway robbery dept that is Saab spare parts. £2K for a fuel pump, £80 for a mirror, £700 for a headlamp - that kind of thing.

Think carefully before you buy.

By IronChicken on 24 February, 2011, 9:10am

Reply to "Ironchicken"

In response to the above reply by "Ironchicken". You mention £2K for a fuel pump!!?? Where do you get your figures from? You write a comment based on what fugures?

By Cinqster on 24 February, 2011, 11:03am

SAAB NAFF-3

This car should have been drawing its pension years ago.

By toycollector on 24 February, 2011, 11:03am

ok

never had any of these problems in owning 2 ..latest 2years old ..good car no scuttle shake ..36+ mpg..a great pleasure ..little money to maintain..

By mt52lwo on 24 February, 2011, 8:26pm

Saab, in the querky market

Quote: never had any of these problems in owning 2 ..latest 2years old .. good car no scuttle shake ..36+ mpg..a great pleasure ..little money to maintain..
By mt52lwo
Scuttle shake!!!! I should think not, it usually showed up in ragtops, but that problem was ironed out over 20 yrs ago.
Saloon cars did not have it, as they had a roof that gives them rigidity.

The Saab dash still looks like a 1970's Vauxhall Cavalier to me, and Saab can’t compete on style, price, or aftermarket prices.

By Bobbybev on 25 February, 2011, 10:52am

GREAT CARS

I've been driving Saabs for over 25 years and have loved every one and not one of them has let me down. Currently have an 03 9-5 and will miss it so much when I have to change it. Husband has a year-old 9-3. Both 9-3 and 9-5 are so comfortable and reliable on long journeys. Both cars have done long trips to France without a problem. At the end of a long journey you feel as though you could keep on driving and that to me is the mark of a good car. Yes, there are better cars (and more expensive) but I love the Saab marque and long may it continue.

By foxcroft179 on 25 February, 2011, 7:38pm

Another reply to "Ironchicken"

You're right, Bosch fuel pumps for Saab 9-3s can be obscenely expensive - Google list the dearest at about £1,600, which plus main dealer mark-up and fitting I could see approaching £2k. The same pump is fitted to Vauxhalls and Fiats and similarly priced pumps can be found in Mercedes, Audi (and therefore no doubt VW, Skoda and SEAT)... OK, it sounds like you had an expensive time with your Saab but the same is likely to be true of examples of most manufacturers. I think you need to get over it really - you've post the same comment on every Saab article I've come across on AE recently and it's getting boring. nb., my careful thinking (or, rather, googling) has persuaded me not to buy a Merc C-Class (twice as expensive for an injector pump than anything else I've searched for).

AE - are we going to start describing other marques' cars as dated in news about press releases or will you just be keeping your apathy to small, enthusiastic, already kicked about the head enough manufacturers? It would be refreshing to see the same attitude applied elsewhere; not everything is as good as the manufacturers' PR firms would have us believe, you know.

By cakewalker90 on 25 February, 2011, 11:31pm

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Pictures

SAAB 9-3 MY12 saloon
SAAB 9-3 MY12 SportWagon

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